Lewis’s, a Liverpool Institution

The impressive, but still sadly only part utilised, ‘Lewis’s Building’ on Ranelagh Street stands as a testimony to one of the city’s retail giants – Mr David Lewis.

The building continues to dominate the corner of Ranelagh/Renshaw Street, and ‘Dickie Lewis’ (or Liverpool Resurgent to give its full title) with his ‘uncompromising masculinity’ continues to raise glances and giggled conversations from tourists and locals alike. Although in most parts a relatively recent building, its history is entwined with that of the city since 1856.

What follows is a quick history time-line through pictures, and newspaper cuttings sourced via British Newspaper Archives.

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  Mr David Lewis, the founder

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  1856 – the future premises 44 Ranelagh St

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  1856 – Preliminary Announcement

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  1856 – The Opening

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  1864 – Ranelagh St

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  1864 – expanding into ladies wear, 54 Bold St

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  1865….by the red dot!

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  1867 – The Pass Book

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  The growth continues…

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  c1875 – Jacobs unit would soon be absorbed

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  1878 – Bon Marche is added to the portfolio…

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  1880: Gore’s Liverpool Directory of 1790

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  More great advertising…

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  1882 – Penny Readings

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  1883, the Adelphi in the distance

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  c1885

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  1886 – ‘Great’ advertising

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  Christmas-eve 1886 – The Great Fire

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  1886 – Fire strikes…..

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  Farewell to the clock-tower

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  1886 – the bounce back

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  Louis Cohen

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  1888 – New Penny Readings

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  c1904- note the statue above the door-way

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  1906 – Jubilee

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  1906 – Jubilee

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  1909 extension opens

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  1910

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  c1911

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  c1911….Renshaw St elevation

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  c1911

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  1912

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  1920 – end of building in sight

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  1920

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  c1920

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  1923 – ‘Standex’ branded goods

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  1925

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  7 Floors to browse

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  1926 – Watson Building planned…..

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  c1927 – before Lawton St is built over

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  1928 – Lewis’s Bank…..

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  Looking complete, but still no Watson Building

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  1929 – Watson Building opens

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  November 1930

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  1939 – The Watson Building now occupied

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  1930’s

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  1939

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  1941 – The Blitz

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  1941 – A heart-breaking sight…

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  Resilience….

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  1941- Food News

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  1941 – contingencies

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  1945 – Plans for a new store

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  1945 – Santa calling

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  1947 – Plans revealed….

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  1948 – Rebuild in progress….

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  Almost complete..

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  1956 – Dickie is unveiled

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  100 years!

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  Eve Lister cuts the birthday cake

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  1961 – We get a zoo….

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  ….and Doddy!

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  1962 – The Beatles pay a visit

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  Travel Bureau

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  The sales floor

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  The cafeteria

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  Sales floor

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  Sales Floor

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  Sales Team looking very smart

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  LFC players get a trim

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  2006 – Central Village plans

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  2010 – Commemorating David Lewis

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  Before work stalls…

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  The Watson Building

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  2019

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  1930’s

“The ‘Ready Money Principle’ is the foundation. All goods are bought with, as well as sold for, ready money. The very smallest rate of profit is charged. The lowest price is marked upon each article in plain figures, from which no deviation is allowed.”

A fascinating book that has been invaluable in compiling this history – ‘Friends of the People – The Centenary History of Lewis’s’ – Asa Briggs. (1956 B. T. Batsford Ltd.)

Time-line:

1839 – David Levy arrives in Liverpool from London. Serves apprenticeship with Benjamin Hyam & Co., Lord St.

1856 – David Lewis (born David Levy) opens the first shop in his own name, at 44 Ranelagh Street. Gents and boys tailoring. This store would see continual expansion. Initially adds no.42, then nos.36-38, and then in 1877 no.40 which had been Jacob’s. Lewis would also marry Bertha Cohen in this year.

1859 – acquires No.54 Bold Street

1864 – expands into trading in women’s clothing at the Bold Street shop. Louis Cohen joins the firm, he would become a partner in 1871, and ultimately become head of the firm.

1867 – another advertising idea: The Lewis’s Pass Book (see advert in slide-show). Some 20million sold in the next ten years.

1878/79 – closes Bold Street shop, and buys out Bon Marché in Basnett Street. Paul de Jong, the Bold St, manager was instrumental in this.

1879 – adds Tobacco Department to Ranelagh St store.

1880 – another ‘advertising’ master-stroke; a re-issue of Gore’s Directory of 1790

1880 – the empire begins to expand: lease taken on 110 – 112 Market St., Manchester. Further expansions would follow in Birmingham, and Sheffield.

1882 – first issue of ‘Lewis’s Penny Readings’, again immensely popular. Again in 1888, and 1895.

1885 – 4^th Dec, death of founder David Lewis. He is buried next to his wife Bertha (died Aug 1896) in Deane Road Cemetery, Kensington, Liverpool. His nephew Louis Cohen takes over the business. His untimely death at least meant he would not witness the disaster to soon follow……

1886 – The SS Great Eastern is used by Lewis’s to advertise on the River Mersey – https://atlantic-cable.com/Cableships/GreatEastern/

1886 – 24^th December, the tragic fire severely damages the store, but it is soon trading again.

1887 – July/August, re-opening in Ranelagh St

1888 – as a result of the opening of the Manchester Ship Canal and the debate that followed, Lewis’s launch their ‘Prize Essay’ competition – ‘The Future of Liverpool’

1893 – expansion of Ranelagh St store

1893 – ‘The David Lewis Trust’ is established by Benn Wolfe Levy – eventually paid for David Lewis Hostel, Northern Hospital, and Central District Nursing Home. Now the David Lewis Association

1897 – a tea-room is added, soon expanded into a restaurant. Expansion into Lawton Street.

1902 – 22nd September, Lewis’s celebrate their Jubilee

1909 – extension

1910 – part demolition and rebuilding of Ranelagh St store commences

1914 – ditto

1920-23 – expansion and major rebuild of Ranelagh St premises. Includes a sub-basement being dug out, with 24,000 tons of earth being removed and the buildings underpinned

1921 – Lewis’s is again ahead of the field, with the introduction of Staff Welfare Departments in each store

1922 – death of Louis Cohen

1922 – the new Clothing Factory opens on Beach Road, Litherland

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  1911

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  1922, the new factory

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1923 – first introduction of own branded goods: ‘Standex’ and ‘Wilwer’

1924 – Lewis’s goes public. Harold Cohen becomes the first Chairman, a position he held until his death in 1936. Business model and practices begin to change.

Sometime between 1927 and 1938 the section of Lawton Street between Cropper Street and Renshaw Street was closed, and the store was expanded across.

1926 – W. Watson & Co are planning the Watson Building on Renshaw St.

1928 – Lewis’s Bank opened (In 1958 the bank was acquired by Martins, but was sold again to Lloyds in 1967)

1929 – expansion continues as ‘John Andersons’ Glasgow is acquired

1929 – The Watson Building opens – it may well have been built in conjunction with Lewis’s, with them taking the upper floors. Watson’s would leave the building in April 1939 (for Bold St).

1931 – In the year that the 75th Anniversary is celebrated, Lewis’s employ nearly 3,000 people in Liverpool, and a total of 9,385 nationally..

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  The 1856 shop front is remembered

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1932 – Leeds store opens.

1935 – Hanley store opens – take-over of McIlroy’s Stores

1936 – Leicester store opens

1936 – Lewis’s gain a share in S. Reece & Sons, Liverpool. Full control in 1938. Merseyside Dairies Ltd an off-shoot

1939 – Expansion into ‘Watson Building’ first week of June as Carpet Hall opens – 83^rd Birthday Week. The building was at this point used mainly for admin staff.

1941 – 3^rd May, the devastation of the Blitz all but destroys the store – only the Watson Building is relatively untouched. The sprinkler system is knocked out by the first bomb, and then oil incendiary bombs cause the greatest damage. Sadly many historical documents relating to Lewis’s are lost.

1941 – June, in a remarkable effort trading recommences

1945 – announcement that the store would be rebuilt

1947 – May, plans revealed

1948-56 – The bombed store is rebuilt in stages, architect Gerald de Courcy Fraser

1950 – February: the first part of the new store starts trading – part of the lower and ground floor at Central Station end. The whole of the ground floor was opened by the Christmas.

1950s – Paul McCartney of Beatles fame said to have worked at Lewis’s as a temp – John Lennon and Cynthia Powell would also meet under ‘Dickie Lewis’!

1951 – Selfridges, London acquired.

1955 – the second section of the rebuild is completed and opened for trading. The company now employs some 14,000 staff

1956 – Centenary Celebrations – Eve Lister cuts the Lewis’s birthday cake on 31st May. A Centenary Lunch is held at the Adelphi, with 140 employees representing the 16,000 then employed by the firm nationally.

1956 – 20^th Nov, unveiling of the 18ft high ‘Liverpool Resurgent’ statue (Dickie Lewis), by Sir Jacob Epstein, is unveiled by F.J. Marquis, First Baron Woolton

1957 – Bristol store opens

1958 – the Ranelagh Street store is finally fully completed

1959 – a subway was created underneath Fairclough Street that linked Central Station with the basement of Lewis’s

1962 – Bon Marche sold to John Lewis

1964 – Blackpool store opens

1991 – company goes into administration – bought by Owen Owen.

2006 – plans for the £160million ‘Central Village’ are passed – new shopping and leisure venue including an Odeon cinema, restaurants, a boardwalk with water features and towers.

Merepark spent £3m developing 9-25 Bold Street, behind Central Station, as an entrance to the planned Central Village

2007 – the Ranelagh Street building is designated as Grade II Listed

“Department store, designed 1947, constructed late 1940s/early 1950s, by Gerald de Courcy Fraser, constructed by Fraser, Sons & Geary. Steel frame with Portland stone facades, brick to rear. Stripped Classical style. Statue and reliefs to main entrance by Sir Jacob Epstein. Replaced earlier store largely destroyed during WWII. Adjacent Watson Building incorporated into earlier store retains early C20 facade.”

2007 – the company goes into liquidation – taken over by Vergo Retail Ltd

2010 – Lewis’s finally closes its doors after some 154 years

2013 – Adagio Hotel opens in part of the building

2013 – Central Village MSCP opens

2015 – Pure Gym open

2015-17 – Watson Building converted into offices

2017/18 – The Department opens with an entrance on Renshaw Street – over 35,000 sq ft of Grade A office space over five floors

2017 – The Augur Group acquire the buildings and launch Circus

2018 – ‘Central Village Post Office’ opens in basement of Renshaw St elevation

2020 – Adgio Hotel announces expansion plans

A few more Links/reading…..

https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101391992-lewiss-department-store-central-ward#.X_BF2Nj7TIU

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/gallery/nostalgia-looking-back-lewiss-department-4051289

https://www.liverpoolpicturebook.com/2013/03/david-lewis.html

https://www.davidlewisassociation.com/our-history

1933 – Lewis’s Soda Fountain via: https://streetsofliverpool.co.uk/lewiss-soda-fountain-1933/

An image from 1911 here that you can zoom into for great detail: A view looking south-west from the 5th floor of the extension to the Adelphi Hotel towards Lewis’ department story and Liverpool Central Station:

https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/CC76/00280

History of Anfield Cemetery

Anfield Cemetery is one of those places you cannot walk through without your mood somehow being affected. It is a place with atmosphere, natural beauty, inspiration, and of course some sadness. For over 150 years the cemetery has been inextricably entwined with the history of Liverpool and its residents. It marks the final resting place of many ‘visitors’ to our great city, it has relevance across the globe. Its importance lies not just in the physical structure of the cemetery, but in the legacy of its many incumbents and the avenues of research they open.

Much has changed in that quarter of Liverpool over the years, and along with the cemetery, the presence of Stanley Park, Goodison, and Anfield, ensures it is very much a part of life for the city today. Perhaps resting Red and Blue souls gently stir to a roar from the faithful lucky to gather on The Kop or Gwladys Street end…….

South Chapel

Compiling and researching this history has thankfully absorbed many hours during these strange COVID-19 times, but unfortunately it has not yet been possible to access the Liverpool Central Library Archives. The archives hold various items which will add to the history, and I have listed them in the bibliography – I look forward to my visit when times return to normality. Hopefully I will then be able to answer the question of what happened to the lost Church of England, and Roman Catholic mortuary chapels.

I would encourage you to have a look at the great efforts of the ‘Friends of Anfield’ (also on Facebook), whom are doing great things to ensure the cemetery is a resource for future generations. They have secured Lottery funding and carried out works to make the catacombs safe, and redress further deterioration, and have aspirations to see the surviving South Chapel become a heritage and visitor centre. You can help the out by filling in the following survey:

https://www.placed-engagement.org.uk/anfieldcemetery

In the meantime, I hope you find this draft version of the history interesting; I have certainly found it fascinating to research. As ever please do get in touch if you can add to the history and help me fill in the inevitable gaps or inaccuracies, or want to share your thoughts on the cemetery.

Before you sit back and read about the history of ‘Anfield Cemetery’ why not relax for a moment, watch the clip below, and imagine yourself slowly walking through Anfield Cemetery on a crisp Autumnal morning, the early sunshine casting a myriad of long shadows, which appear reminiscent of vacant grave plots awaiting their guests, and the first fall of leaves begin to blanket the stretching paths beneath your feet. 

Link to PDF: History of Anfield Cemetery: ‘The Liverpool Cemetery, Anfield Park, Walton’

St John’s Market 1822 – 1964

St John’s Market, and its host St John’s Shopping Centre, is never far from the Liverpool news pages, and this is very much the case today. Having not yet re-opened since the Covid-19 pandemic, traders are voicing real concerns about their, and the market’s future.

Frustrated St John’s Market traders take their fight with council to the streets

The Twitter account https://twitter.com/StJohnsMkt is leading a feisty campaign, and in addition to the Liverpool Echo coverage above, Scottie Press have also run a story:

St John’s Market Traders Demand Answers from Liverpool Council

Picture by Scottie Press

Update: thankfully the market has now re-opened, make sure you visit soon!

Always liable to evoke strong opinions, and often calls for the wrecking ball to call again, now seemed as good a time as any to finally getting around to adding the original St John’s Market to my series of Liverpool Histories.

As normal, my research has relied heavily upon the great resource that is provided by British Newspaper Archive (I can’t recommend a subscription too highly), but unfortunately on this occasion has not, as yet, been supplemented by a visit to Liverpool Central Library Archives. The Covid-19 restrictions has made this impractical, but I have included in the PDF a list of the available archive material that I will endeavour to explore at some date in the future.

It has been a fascinating history to research thus far, and certainly for me, has revealed some previously unknown facts about the market and its changing fortunes.

It would again be great to add any personal memories and/or pictures to the blog, so please do get in touch.

Here is the LINK to the PDF file, which I will update as an ongoing project,  I hope you enjoy it.

To Fill, or Not to Fill………

The history of Liverpool is inextricably intertwined with that of its docks, and you might indeed ask would Liverpool actually exist without them? The majority have been constructed on man-made land extending the city’s shoreline further into the River Mersey. Their evolution, their impact here and across the globe, their rise and fall, and their continuous adaptation are unquestionable. It could be argued that this continuous adaptation, often controversial, is why the ‘docks’ have continued to enhance and contribute to the city for over 200 years.

Herman Melville would write of Liverpool Docks in 1856:

“…….in Liverpool I beheld long China walls of masonry; vast piers of stone; and a succession of granite-rimmed docks, completely enclosed. The extent and solidity of these structures seemed equal to what I had read of the old pyramids of Egypt. In magnitude, cost and durability the docks of Liverpool surpass all others in the world… for miles you may walk along that riverside, passing dock after dock, like a chain of immense fortresses.”

By the early 19th century some 40% of the world’s trade was passing through Liverpool’s Docks, and the city’s fame was world-wide. Of course, the nature of both world trade and shipping would change, and the docks themselves had to change accordingly. Dock construction evolved, dock size, cargo handling, logistics all changed. Though the pace of change has varied, it has always been there, and the city has had to adapt accordingly. Steam-ships, migration, and passenger liners added ongoing stimulus. At times this would increasingly demand more docks, more quay space, and more warehousing etc. At others it has meant demand for all things dock related has considerably lessened.

Of all the changes in the dock estate, infilling has perhaps been the most controversial. The first however was as far back as 1826 when it was deemed the ‘Old’ or ‘Steers Dock’ had reached the end of its usefulness, and that the space could be better utilised. This first instance of infilling led to a dispute between the Corporation and the Dock Trustees. Even once closed there were continuing calls for it to be re-opened. Ultimately of course the land was used for the magnificent 5th Customs House, the docks then expanding North and South.

The infilling of docks in more modern times has continued to be controversial, but as in other ports, the demand for more productive use of space has won the day. Stanley Dock was part infilled in 1897 for the massive and still standing Tobacco Warehouse, and back in 1900 the closure and infilling of Georges Dock was a key event in shaping the Liverpool we know today.

Liverpool Mercury – Saturday 12 January 1895: BNA

Liverpool Echo – Friday 06 September 1895: BNA

It can of course be argued that the in-filling of water space has brought the city many benefits, and indeed we have as a result built:

The Three Graces and the Pier Head.        Museum of Liverpool.
Housing and apartments.                             Industrial/Commercial premises.
Leisure facilities.                                             Hotel and conference facilities.

Re-use of docks such as Queens, Coburg, and Brunswick have also brought about positive results.

To all intents and purposes some say once they are gone, they are gone, but we should acknowledge that many of the infilled docks remain as archaeological resources, surviving in varying degrees of completeness below ground.

The debate about infilling is once again paramount in view of two key proposals: firstly the new Everton F.C. Stadium and the filling of Bramley Moore Dock, and secondly Romal Capital’s proposals for the partial infill of West Waterloo Dock for more apartments blocks as part of the much wider ‘Liverpool Waters’ scheme. These proposals have equally raised the contentious issue of World Heritage Status and the over-hanging threat that this will be withdrawn by UNESCO

For me personally it is of course sad to see historic docks disappear, but each and every instance needs to be assessed on its individual circumstances. In the big scheme of things have we already filled-in too many of our docks? I’m not sure. Should we be considering the infilling of more docks? I again suggest we have to seriously consider the pros and cons of each situation from as neutral a perspective as possible. In making such decisions though I feel it is important that full account is taken of the historical context and the decisions taken previously. For instance, I am sure many would be surprised by how many docks have actually previously been infilled.

The waterfront is now a very different place, and is perhaps contributing to the city’s culture and economy in a much wider variety of ways than ever before. Thus, we have diverse factors seeking to utilise the limited land and water resources available – the debate will continue, let it at least be informed.

The following graphics and table can be viewed via the PDF

The dock estate in 1889: Hornby to Herculaneum, and the changes since:

Purple boxes indicate new water areas/docks since 1899, excluding the extensive Gladstone (1924-27), and Seaforth (1972).

Red boxes indicate docks filled in since 1826

North Docks – click for larger version

South Docks – click for larger version

You can view a zoomable map of the Docks in 1889 here

Dock	Opened	Closed/Infilled	Reason	Current Status
Hornby	1884	/1994	Coal plant	Coal processing
Alexandra No.1	1881			Scrap processing yard
Langton Branch	1881	/pre1986		Container storage-SeaTruck
Langton Graving x 2	1881	/pre1986		Container storage-SeaTruck
North Carriers	1861	/post1986		Cargill Bulk Foods
Brocklebank Graving	1861	/pre1986		Cargill Bulk Foods
Huskisson Branch No.2	1860?	1941/1950’s	Blitz damage 1941	Henty Oil
Sandon	1851	1980’s/1989		Water treatment works
Wellington	1851	Late 1970’s/2012		Water treatment works
Stanley	1848	Partly 1897	Tobacco Warehouse	Tobacco Warehouse
Clarence	1830	1928/1929	Clarence Power Station	Vacant site
Clarence Half-tide	1830	1928/1929	Clarence Power Station	Leeds Liverpool Canal Link
Trafalgar	1836	1972	B&I terminal	Warehousing
Victoria	1836	1972	B&I terminal	Quay Central Apartments
Prince Graving/Branch	1874/1938	c1990		Crowne Plaza Hotel
Seacombe Ferry Basin/Slip	1821	1871-74	Floating Roadway	St Nicholas Place
Georges Dock Basin	1771	1871-74	Floating Roadway	Pier Head
Georges Ferry Basin	c1811	Pre-1895		Mersey Ferries Terminal
Georges	1771	1900		Three Graces, Pier Head
Chester	1795	1929		Pier Head
Manchester	1785/1825	1929		Museum of Liverpool
Old/Steers Dock	1715	1826	Customs House	L1/Steers Way/Hilton Hotel
Kings	1788/1898	1972/1986		M&S Arena/Liverpool Exhibition Centre
Queens Branch No.2	1903	1972/1986		MSCP/parking
River Craft Dock (Trafford Dock)	1843	c1899		absorbed into Queens Branch No.1 c1899
Brunswick Half-tide	1832	1972/1986-94		Boat-yard
Union	1889	1898/		Absorbed into Brunswick
Toxteth	1841-88	1972/1986-94		Brunswick Business Park
Harrington	1882	1972/1986-94		Brunswick Business park
Herculaneum	1866	1972/1984	Garden Festival	Car showrooms/gym
Herculaneum Graving x 3	1866	1972/1984	Garden Festival	City Quay

If you spot any factual errors in the above, or have additional info, do get in touch.

Waterloo Dock

Waterloo Dock Liverpool – Ever-changing and serving the city in different ways since 1834

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Newspaper cuttings sourced via https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

There is of course currently a new planning proposal as part of Liverpool Waters and the Central Docks, which includes the West Waterloo Dock:

‘Proposal: To erect residential development comprising 538 units (Use Class C3) and ground floor commercial space (Use Classes A1, A3 or A4) in four blocks, 10 storeys in height, with associated partial dock infill of West Waterloo Dock, access, parking, servicing, soft and hard landscaping and public open space including a floating timber jetty and dockside walkway (revised proposals)’

You can read the full Planning Application here  which includes a Heritage Impact Assessment

Construction of the new Isle of Man Ferry Terminal, and the new approach road, is currently under construction, and is due to open in 2021. This will occupy part of the former West quay and the former River Entrance

Further Reading/Sources:

Liverpool Observatory: http://resources.schoolscience.co.uk/POL/insight/timeball.html

Liverpool at the forefront of dock technology: Waterloo, Victoria and Trafalgar Docks: https://historic-liverpool.co.uk/liverpool-at-the-forefront-of-dock-technology-waterloo-victoria-and-trafalgar-docks/

Britain from Above: https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/

Streets of Liverpool: https://streetsofliverpool.co.uk/waterloo-grain-warehouses-c1895/

Liverpool Canal Link, March 2009 – 4. West Waterloo Dock and Trafalgar Dock: http://www.penninewaterways.co.uk/ll/liverpool-link28.htm

The Liverpool Docks Extension to the Leeds and Liverpool Canal: http://www.canalscape.net/Liverpool%20Link/Liverpool%20Link.htm

Wellington Rooms – Updated

Wellington Rooms – Mount Pleasant: 1815-16

367 WTN/8 – 1894

This is another of Liverpool’s empty buildings that creates much discussion and debate, and one that holds many memories for many people. How fantastic would it be to see this gem alive once again with the sounds of laughter and music, of course with access to the general public! We have waited too long and have seen far too many false dawns.

Efforts to save the building have been stepped up in recent years with an open-day/consultation hosted by the Merseyside Building Preservation Trust (MBPT) held in the building on 21st March 2018, and lobbying by @LHUIrishSociety  to see the much loved ‘Irish Centre’ reborn. This followed work done earlier in 2018 by specialists Quadriga to carry out urgent repairs and make the building water-tight. Sadly since then, perhaps predictably, we have read very little and once again people are asking about how the building is to be saved.

You can read the ‘Strategy of Liverpool City Council for the reactivation and reuse of Wellington Rooms’  here

Here is a link to a downloadable PDF of this blog with additional images etc….and no adverts!

Since I first wrote a blog about the Wellington Rooms in 2014 I have researched further and so thought an updated version was warranted. As ever greatly indebted to the Archives at Liverpool Central Library and in this instance archives referenced 367 WTN. We are very fortunate that so many records of the Wellington Rooms/Embassy Rooms survive. Newspaper cuttings are sourced via the excellent https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/

The Grade II* Wellington Rooms is a neo-classical building designed by Edmund Aikin, erected by subscription, and located on Mount Pleasant. It was built 1815 – 16 and the first function was the Ladies Charity Ball held on 31st Dec 1816.

 

The seeds of the Wellington Rooms were sown in 1814 when at a meeting of gentlemen, held on 15th August 1814 at the Kings Arms, in Liverpool, it was resolved to form a club, to be called The Wellington Club, for the purpose of having Balls and other Entertainments.

367 WTN/6

The Kings Arms was in Water Street and itself has quite a history. Built c1690 by William Clayton, and later home of Thomas Tarleton, it became the Kings Arms in 1786, and then in 1822 the Parish Offices.

As you would expect many of the influential figures of the day were involved in the establishment of the Wellington Club and a committee was set up to oversee things:

The plot of land for the club was assigned to the trustees on 5th August 1815 with Mayor Jonas Bold,  a noted slave merchant, sugar trader and banker, one of those named:

367 WTN/6

367 WTN/6

367 WTN/6

The Wellington Club became a key part of the Liverpool social scene in the 19^th Century as a venue for dancing, drama, and other entertainment.

A key annual event that took place here was the ‘Steeplechase Ball’ when it is said the grand national winner would be paraded around the ballroom with flannelled hooves! ….not sure on this one 🙂

367 WTN/8

367 WTN/8

Pevsner’s guide tells us that the central projecting colonade was originally open but infilled in the 1820s as it gave insufficient shelter. Porches on the west for sedan chairs, and on the east for carriages have also been enclosed (Pevsner Architectural Guides – Liverpool) 

The Wellington Club, or ‘The Rooms’ was wound up in 1923 after failing to regain its popularity post-WWI. We have a fascinating account, written by Sir William Forwood and published in the Liverpool Echo on 20th January 1923. This piece not only gives a snapshot of the elitist goings on at ‘The Rooms’ but also changing Liverpool life for those that frequented it:

In 1923 the building became known as The Embassy Rooms with the aim of ‘maintaining the character of those Rooms as a first class place of assembly’. 

367 WTN 8/3

367 WTN 8/3

The Embassy Rooms seem to have remained popular until 1930 when we see an unsuccessful effort to sell the club: (click images for larger versions)

367 WTN 8/4

Despite not selling, the club did continue to operate and in 1932 (after temporary closure) became ‘The New Embassy Club’ opening on the 10th September:

Liverpool Echo – Wednesday 24 August 1932

Liverpool Echo – Monday 05 September 1932

I wonder if there are any people out there remember attending the Rooms in the next reincarnation as the Rodney Youth Centre? It opened on 23rd July 1940 and would have been a great boon to local youngsters. The club moved to Mulberry St in 1962:

Liverpool Evening Express – Friday 26 July 1940

Liverpool Echo – Friday 07 June 1940

1940

1940

Liverpool Echo – Wednesday 24 October 1962

Most current memories will of course relate back to the buildings days as the Irish Centre from 1965-97: please feel free to share any memories you have.

Time-line 1923 – present

• 23rd January 1923 – 1930: Embassy Rooms, then sold
• 1940 – 52: Rodney Youth Centre (later Mulberry St)
• 1956 – 62: Used by Sisters of Notre Dame for educational purposes
• 1965 – 97: Liverpool Irish Centre, 1st February 1965 including Kennedy’s Bar
• 1997 – Long-running but ultimately unsuccessful efforts to save the Irish Centre
• 2000 – Developer took over the 99-year lease
• 2002 – features as one of the original buildings in the Liverpool Echo ‘Stop the Rot’ campaign
• A proposed conversion to a 48 bedroom hotel was rejected by Liverpool City Council on 21 May 2007.
• In 2011 opened its doors as part of Heritage Open Month, which led to formation of the ‘Friends of 127’. This project appears to have sadly fallen by the wayside.
• Heritage Works has undertaken two feasibility/options appraisal studies for the Wellington Rooms, which have explored new uses that can be contained within the existing building and with minimum intervention into the historic fabric. The first explored the viability of Dance Liverpool’s dance centre proposal. The second considered office, function room, restaurant and University uses.
• 2015 – another scheme announced – University of Liverpool, and John Moores University
• 2018 – Specialist Quadriga carry out urgent repair works
• 2018 – new proposals/consultation

Liverpool City Council owns the freehold of the site and also has statutory responsibilities for the listed building.

1997: Liverpool Echo

Further Reading:

Liverpool Records Office Ref. 367 WTN covering dates 1840 – 1933

Heritage Works

‘Another Irish Ruin’ – Gerry Gordon

Video taken in 2011 during Heritage Open Month showking the interior of the building 

As the building looked during works in Feb 2018 – James O’Hanlon:

 

Wellington Rooms – opened 1816

Clayton House – Little House in the Square

‘Little house in the square’

Following the time-lines of buildings or sites is often fascinating, and gives you a much greater appreciation of the surroundings we now live in. The ‘little house in the square’ certainly falls into this category, and most certainly draws you into the much wider influence and history of its surroundings. Clayton Square has been an important spot in Liverpool since the mid eighteenth century when laid out by Sarah Clayton c1745-50, including as a meeting place for large public and political gatherings. The Square was named after Sarah’s father, tobacco and sugar merchant  William Clayton, a member of an influential old Liverpool family who represented the town in eight parliaments between the years 1698-1714, and who also served as Mayor in 1689. He died on 7th July 1715 at Chester, being buried four days later at St. Nicholas’, Liverpool.

https://www.hslc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/100-6-Harris.pdf

By 1769 the square still only contained four houses, and Gores Directory lists: Sarah Clayton; Capt. Henry Parry; George Venable, Merchant; and Capt. Robert Wilson. Since that time, it appears the square has been forever changing, and has always been a key feature of the city.

This piece intentionally only focuses upon one building but inevitably the researching of it pulls you into many different facets of Liverpool life – if you read it through try not to get distracted! Link to PDF

‘Owen Owen a Liverpool History: London Road-to-Clayton Square’

Owen Owen

Pleased to say I have now completed my latest ‘Liverpool history’ which I hope you enjoy,

and might be able to add to: Link

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You can find my other ‘Liverpool histories’ here

New research………

The latest piece of research is now coming along nicely. And it is again about something of a Liverpool institution………..Owen Owen, Clayton Square. As ever the research is both fascinating and revealing as I learn more about not only the store but also our great city.

From early beginnings on London Road in 1868 until the sad and final day of trading in Clayton Square in 1993 the store touched many peoples lives, both as employees and customers. This is were you come in I would love to add some personal anecdotes to the research, so if you shopped at Owen Owen, perhaps travelling from North Wales, or worked at the store I would love to hear from you. If you can why not drop me a line via the contact page, or on Twitter @Liverpool1207

I look forward to hearing from you, and completing the research. Cheers.

Dates and Events that have Shaped Liverpool

On a whim I’d thought I would try and come up with twenty key dates/events that have had a significant role in shaping how this great city of Liverpool has evolved. Now its an impossible task, and the parameters you could apply are endless. I have tended to go for events that in turn led to subsequent developments. I have not for instance included key external factors/events such as global recessions, or the impact of specific government policies on the city.

What is undeniable when looking to compile such a list, is what a great city of ‘firsts’ we are, and many of these could have been included for their impact across the globe.

Anyhow it was a good excuse to look back across the history of the city and refresh my knowledge of some key events. Why not have a go at compiling and sharing your own list, it would be interesting to see the perspective of others.

1. – 28th Aug 1207 – Granting of the first Charter by King John
2. – 1647 – Liverpool becomes a free port not tied to Chester
3. – 1648 – First recorded shipment of tobacco from America on the ‘Friendship’.
4. – 1667 – First imports of sugar
5. – 3rd Oct 1699 – ‘The Liverpool Merchant’ first recorded slave ship leaves port
6. – 31st Aug 1715 – Steers Old Dock opens
7. – 1774 – Leeds-Liverpool Canal opens to Gathurst (connected to Wigan via Douglas Navigation)
8. – 1784, January – The first American cotton was unloaded in Liverpool
9. – 21st July 1813 – East India Company Act
10. – 15th Sept 1830 – Opening of the Liverpool-Manchester Railway
11. – 4th July 1840 – First Cunard ship sails to the US
12. – 1847 – Irish Famine influx
13. – 1869 – St. Martins Cottages, Vauxhall built – Europe’s first municipal housing
14. – 12th March 1892 – Everton F.C. – Liverpool F.C. split
15. – 3rd may 1941 – The May Blitz begins
16. – 6th July 1957 – Lennon-McCartney first meet
17. – 3rd July 1981 – Toxteth Riots
18. – 3rd July 1993 – Awarded EU Objective One Funding
19. – 4th June 2003 – Awarded Capital of Culture for 2008
20. – 29th May 2008 Liverpool One opens